Seven days, 2,230 miles and one hurricane: Leigh Timmis sets one week mileage world record

British ultra-rider survives the worst that Florida can throw at him to set a new mark in one of cycling's toughest challenges

Seven day record
Timmis (centre) with his team
(Image credit: Jack Hague)

Seven-day record rider Leigh Timmis went to Florida for the weather – and weather was what he got. The Derby ultra-rider endured the three-day Hurricane Nicole in the middle of his week-long attempt, but even so he managed to scrape through to record a new Guinness World Record of 2,230 miles. It was 19 miles further than the previous mark, set by Latvian Arvis Sprude in the summer.

Timmis, who already holds the record for cycling across Europe, and his team looked at a variety of possible locations for the attempt. They decided that Florida – and more specifically Highway 41 between Miami on the east coast and Naples on the west coast – was ideal.

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